Garbage receptacle



Jan. 22, 1963 T. J. MARTINICH, JR

GARBAGE RECEPTACLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 20, 1960 INVENTOR w)? J! !Zam milk BY r W W ATTORNEYS Jan. 22, 1963 T. J. MARTINXCH, JR

GARBAGE RECEPTACLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 20, 1960 iiiiin BY W ATTORNEYS nitd I tS

This invention relates to a garbage receptacle combination. More particularly, however, the present invention relates to an exterior casing which encloses a garbage basket supported within the casing by a removable tray that permits proper drainage and ventilation for the maintenance of sanitary conditions,

As can well be appreciated, the disposal and the necessary storage or holding of the garbage pending its collection for disposal, present great problems to every community, particularly as the population increases, producing even more crowded living conditions. Previous attempts to treat these problems of garbage storage or holding prior to its collection for disposal have not proved successful for a variety of reasons. Among these prior art failures were garbage receptacles comprising outer casings and inner garbage baskets or containers. However, these structures did not provide any removable means within the casing which would prevent garbage spillage from falling to the bottom of the casing, thereby causing the stoppage of air circulation through openings in the bottom of the casing and ultimately resulting in the production of undesirable odors in the confined space, particularly during warm weather. Other attempts did not provide means for preventing the seepage of moisture of liquid, normally present in the garbage, from falling through the receptacle yet retain the advantage of maintaining air circulation in contact with the garbage within its container. In this connection, it appears that the prior art failed to recognize that it is desirable to hold any seepage of liquid as well as solid garbage spillage in a removable garbage container supporting tray which not only has an impervious bottom but also includes means permitting the necessary circulation of air through the garbage receptacle casing. Because of this inherent failure of the prior constructions, it frequently became necessary to either scrape the bottom of the exterior casing or invert the entire unit to remove solid garbage spillage from that bottom to permit the proper air circulation and drain or otherwise dry the garbage so that there would be no seepage through the receptacle and onto the ground below.

Therefore, it is to be noted that the prior art failed in the following three important aspects in any known attempts to provide on acceptable garbage receptacle, proper air circulation throughout the receptacle, solid garbage spillage collection and removal means, adequate drainage.

Consequently, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a garbage receptacle which provides proper air circulation within the receptacle.

It is also an important object of this invention to provide a means for collecting liquid seepage and solid garbage spillage within the casing, as well as providing proper drainage for the receptacle.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of a removable means which permits the collection of the liquid seepage and the solid garbage spillage and which is also designed to support a garbage container within an outer casing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a removable liquid and solid garbage collecting means which includes air vent means in a guard means surrounding the collecting means, thereby providing proper air circulation within the receptacle.

A further object of this invention is to provide an overflow means on the liquid and solid garbage collecting means to permit the passage of excess water through the receptacle.

A further and more limited object is the provision of a removable tray for supporting a garbage container at a predetermined position in an outer casing, which tray includes means for both removing the tray and supporting the garbage container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple, economical and sturdy construction for a garbage receptacle which provides the proper air circulation and drainage to maintain the proper sanitation.

Other objects and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent to those skilled in the art, from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the assembled novel garbage receptacle when a closed position; FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line -2--2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line 3--3 of FIGURE 2, showing in greater detail the positioning of the novel removal tray in relationship to the outer casing and garbage container;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line 4--4 of FIGURE 3, showing the leg adjustment means which is designed to raise and lower the outer easing into a desired position;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the novel remov able tray showing the guard means with the air vents therethrough, the brackets for aiding the removal of the tray, as well as for supporting the garbage container and.

the overflow outlets in the sides of the tray;

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 are views showing a modification of the adjustable support means for the outer casing shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. i

' Briefly, this invention includes the combination of an outer rigid box-like casing having an openable top, louvered sides, and perforated bottom, the casing being adjustable in height above its supporting surface by suitable adjusting means. I novel collecting tray having a continuous or solid bottornf and flexible guard means surrounding the periphery of; its open top portion. A plurality of vent openings aredisposed through this guard means to provide fluid c,0m-

munication between the tray and the casing through the guard means. Elongated brackets or handles are secured to the top of the tray and extend from one side to the other, whereby they may be used to remove the tray as well as to support the one or more perforated and close the top portion 16. The sides 12 of the casingare provided with a plurality of air vents 22, which are preferably louvered, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. With such a louvered construction, it can be seen that air is permitted to pass through the casing sides, yet rain water is excluded from entering the casing. In view of the fact that proper sanitation is an important aspect of this invention, it is advisable to include some means to Patented Jan. 22, 1963.

Within the casing is disposed a' The casing includes SldS exclude insects, such as flies, mosquitoes, etc., or animal pests such as rats, from the casing. To perform this function, screens 24 are provided on the inside of the casing side and designed to extend over the louvered air vent openings 22. These screens may be secured to the inside of the casing in any conventional manner. Provided at the bottom 14 of the casing are a plurality of openings 26, which may be bored therein, the purpose of which are to permit air circulation within the casing, as well as to permit the drainage of excess moisture of rain water from the casing.

FIGURE 5 shows most clearly the novel removable tray which is placed within the casing and designed to rest on the bottom 14 of the casing while being supported by legs 30. The tray 28 is constructed with a similar contour as the bottom portion of the sides of the casing. This can be readily seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, in which the tray substantially fills the inside of the bottom portion of the casing. It is to be noted that the sides 32 of the tray form with the sides 12 of the casing a relatively small space 34 therebetween. The purpose of the space 34 will be discussed hereinafter.

The sides 32 of the tray are formed with a plurality of slotted overflow outlets 36. Secured to the top of the sides 32 is a guard means 38, which may be formed of suitable flexible material such as rubber or plastic. As can be seen best in FIGURE 3, the guard means projects upwardly and outwardly from the top of the tray to contact the sides 12 of the casing, thereby restricting access to the lower part of the casing through the space 34 between the casing walls and the tray walls. With the guard means so constructed and positioned upon the tray, it should be clear that solid material falling towards the opening 34 will strike the guard means and be diverted into the bottom of the tray, and maintained there until it is desirable to remove such material. Air vent perforations 4-0 are provided in the guard means to permit the circulation of air through the guard means from one side of the tray to the other.

It is an important feature of this invention that the novel tray is removable, thereby permitting the collection of any spilled solid or liquid garbage in the tray to be removed and disposed of. Accordingly, elongated brackets 42 are provided which are secured to the top portion of the tray 28, and are designed to extend thereacross. With such a construction, it can easily be seen that it is a simple matter to grasp either one or both of these brackets and raise the tray from its normal position at the bottom of the casing. It is to be noted that the brackets 42 not only serve the purpose of providing a handle means or to permit removal of the tray, but also are designed to support garbage containers 44 at a desired height within the casing.

It is desirable that the garbage containers which are in intimate contact with the garbage be forarninous or at least contain a plurality of perforations, whereby proper ventilation can be effected within the garbage receptacle. It can be appreciated further that with the present construction, more than one garbage container can be utilized, and in practice it has been found that two containers are desirable.

As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the outer casing is adjustably supported above the ground by anchors or stands 46 placed in suitable holes made in the supporting surface S, which usually is concrete or dirt. Screw nut 48 then is turned along the shank of the anchor 46 by means of the pin 50, such that the garbage receptacle may then be leveled on its supporting surface S. As shown in FIGURE 3, the anchor is suitably secured as by rivets to the corners of the outer casing.

In FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, there is shown a modified supporting means for the outer casing, which takes the form of a spike 52, depending from a corner iron which is provided at its vertical sides with openings 56, designed to receive suitable fasteners such as bolts 58 therein for securing the corner iron to the corners of the outer casing. With this simple type of supporting means for the casing, it is necessary that the supporting surface S be such that it will maintain the casing in the desired position once the spike has been forced into the supporting surface.

The mode of usage and function of the novel garbage receptacle above outlined is believed to be clear. However, a brief description may be helpful to the better understanding of the function and operation of the invention.

With the present invention, garbage of any form or any type is deposited within the garbage containers 44 by opening the top portion 16. It will be seen that upon closing the top, the garbage is maintained free from flies, rats or other undesirable creatures, by reason of the screens 24 covering the louvered air vents 22 in the sides 12 of the casing, and also by reason of the relatively small openings 26 in the bottom of the casing. When the garbage is deposited there, air can circulate throughout the container, since the bottom of the tray 28 is raised from the bottom 14 of the exterior casing, by means of the legs 3i}. Therefore, air entering the bottom of the casing can flow up between the tray and the casing through the openings 40 in the flexible guard 36, which is attached to the top of the tray. Air also can flow up through the water outlets 36 to contact the under portion of the garbage container. However, this latter flow will be greatly restricted by reason of the tray top opening being relatively covered by the garbage in the garbage container. Thus, the main flow would be through the openings 40.

As is often the case, garbage to be disposed of contains a considerable amount of moisture or liquid, which oozes from the garbage, and in this construction drops into the bottom of the tray. The tray is constructed with an impervious bottom which will contain and hold all of this seepage, and prevent it from falling below through the bottom of the casing. Furthermore, the tray being provided with the guard member 36, prevents garbage from falling between the tray and the casing, and directs any garbage spillage into the bottom of the tray. Therefore, when the tray becomes filled with garbage and/or liquid seepage, it can be removed by merely first taking out the garbage container, and secondly, grasping the tray "by the brackets or handles 42 and removing the tray to dispose of its contents.

The overflow outlets 36 are provided in the side walls of the tray 28, for the reason that if a heavy rain should occur, the tray could fill up with water, which is undesirable, since it would tend to clog the perforations 40 in the guard means 38, but in the present construction, before the tray would fill up to the point at which it would clog the perforations, water would flow out the overflow outlets 36.

It should be manifest that the above constiuction provides for a sanitary garbage receptacle, in that a proper air circulation is permitted throughout the casing while there is provided a tray for preventing liquid seep-age and solid garbage spillage from dropping through the casing.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations, and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those skilled in the art. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention, be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A garbage receptacle comprising an exterior casing having an openable top to permit access to the interior of said casing, air vent means on said casing, a bottom on said casing having openings therethrough providing fluid communication through said casing, a removable tray positioned within said casing and spaced from said casing bottom, said tray having a continuous bottom, an open top, brackets secured to the upper portion of said tray and extending across said tray top, at least one perforated garbage container positioned upon said brackets and adapted to extend above said tray, and guard means between the top of said tray and said casing restricting access to the bottom of the casing.

2. The garbage receptacle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said guard means is provided with air vents therethrough.

3. The garbage receptacle as recited in claim 1, wherein, said tray is provided with supporting legs which maintain said tray in raised position above the casing bottom.

4. The garbage receptacle recited in claim 1, wherein, screening means is provided on the inside of the casing over each said air vent means.

5. The garbage receptacle recited in claim 1, wherein, the sides of the tray are provided with liquid overflow outlets spaced above said tray bottom.

6. A garbage receptacle comprising an enclosed exterior box-like casing having sides, bottom and a top, said top being openable permitting access to the interior of said casing, louvered air vent means on the casing sides, screening means covering the inside of each said air vent means, said bottom being perforated to provide a liquid and gas passages through said casing, a removable tray shaped similar to the inside contour of said casing and spaced therefrom, said tray having supporting legs contacting the casing bottom to maintain said tray a predetermined distance above said casing bottom, elongated brackets secured to the upper portion of said tray and extending across the top of said tray, flexible guard means secured to the top of said tray to bridge the space between the tray and the casing, said guard means having air vent perforations wherein to provided fluid communication on each side of said tray through said space between the tray and the casing, at least one perforated garbage container positioned upon and supported by said brackets and adapted to extend above said tray.

7. The garbage receptacle set forth in claim 5, including adjustable leg means secured to the outside of and at the bottom of the casing which contacts a supporting surface for the receptacle to maintain the receptacle in raised position.

8. In a garbage receptacle combination comprising an exterior casing having a bottom and a top, said top being openable to permit access to the interior of said casing,

air vent means on said casing, said bottom having openings therethrough providing fluid communication through said casing, a perforated garbage container within the casing, the improvement comprising a removable tray positioned Within said casing and spaced from said casing bottom, said tray having a solid bottom and upwardly extending sides, said side being provided with liquid overflow outlets spaced above said tray bottom, means secured to said tray to permit removal of said tray from said casing and to support said garbage container within the casing, and guard means secured to the top of said tray and extending to the sides of the casing.

9. The structure set forth in claim 7, wherein, the guard means includes air vent perforations therethrough to provide a fluid communication between each side of said tray.

10. A garbage receptacle comprising an exterior casing having an openable top, air vent means on said casing, at least one opening in the bottom of the casing to provide fluid communication through said casing, a plurality of vertically spaced removable containers within said casing including a removable tray and at least one perforated garbage basket, said tray having a concave upwardly tray bottom adapted to retain solids and liquids, opening means in said tray above said tray bottom to provide gaseous communication through said tray and bottom of said casing, basket supporting means secured to one of said removable containers for supporting said baskets in spaced relationship above said tray bottom, said basket supporting means being positioned above the bottom of said tray and projecting across the top of said tray and into engagement with the basket, and guard means positioned between the tray and the casing restrict ing access through the bottom of the casing.

11. The garbage receptacle of claim 10, wherein the basket supporting means is secured to said tray and permits removal of said tray from said casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 696,832 Maschke Apr. 1, 1902 1,227,964 Shepperd May 29, 1917 2,308,398 Stevens Jan. 12, 1943 2,453,565 Barden Nov. 9, 1948 2,500,466 Myers Mar. 14, 1950 

1. A GARBAGE RECEPTACLE COMPRISING AN EXTERIOR CASING HAVING AN OPENABLE TOP TO PERMIT ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID CASING, AIR VENT MEANS ON SAID CASING, A BOTTOM ON SAID CASING HAVING OPENINGS THERETHROUGH PROVIDING FLUID COMMUNICATION THROUGH SAID CASING, A REMOVABLE TRAY POSITIONED WITHIN SAID CASING AND SPACED FROM SAID CASING BOTTOM, SAID TRAY HAVING A CONTINUOUS BOTTOM, AN OPEN TOP, BRACKETS SECURED TO THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID TRAY AND EXTENDING ACROSS SAID TRAY TOP, AT LEAST ONE PERFORATED GARBAGE CONTAINER POSITIONED UPON SAID BRACKETS AND ADAPTED TO EXTEND ABOVE SAID TRAY, AND GUARD MEANS BETWEEN THE TOP OF SAID TRAY AND SAID CASING RESTRICTING ACCESS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CASING. 